Sixteen-year-old Emperor Wu of Han, Liu Che, found the crumpled note tucked in the old case file:
"Crane-top shattered. The prince lives. One life owed. —Pig"
He laughed until tears fell.
That same night he issued an imperial edict:
"The Son of Heaven desires the oldest soft-shell turtles from Cloud Dream Marsh."
Two weeks later, thirty iron cauldrons lined the palace avenue.
No turtles inside—just the living bodies of the Dou clan loyalists.
Wang Heng, Zhao Buyi, a dozen Long Faith Palace eunuchs—stripped naked, scalded alive.
Liu Che personally poured wine over the rims, smiling like a little madman:
"Dear ministers, enjoy. This cup is offered on behalf of Brother Pig."